Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness can cause extreme mood swings. Approximately six-million adults in the United States are affected by this serious mental illness, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The intense moodiness experienced by someone who suffers from bipolar disorder can go far beyond the normal highs and lows that most people feel from time to time. Manic depressives may feel on top of the world or in the depths of despair, with periods of feeling normal in between. The mood swings associated with bipolar disorder can vary significantly.
Mixed Mania
When someone experiences symptoms of mania and depression simultaneously, it's referred to as mixed mania or a mixed state, according to the DBSA. During a mixed state, the individual has a low mood and pessimistic attitude while feeling restless and agitated at the same time.
Bipolar I
Bipolar I is defined as manic or mixed episodes that persist for one week or longer, according to the NIMH. The changes in personality and behavior may be severe enough to require hospitalization and can significantly impact employment and relationships.
Biopolar II
Bipolar II is less intense than Bipolar I. It typically consists of depressive episodes that swing back and forth between what's referred to as hypo-manic episodes or toned-down versions of full-blown mania. Someone with Bipolar II may appear to have boundless energy and is very productive, yet manages to function without disrupting his normal routine.
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. People who suffer from this condition usually experience episodes of hypo-mania that sway back and forth with mild depression for a period of no less than two years.
The mood swings associated with cyclothymia are not as severe as with Bipolar I or II notes MayoClinic.com.
Rapid Cycling
Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is typically diagnosed when a person has four or more episodes of severe depression, mania, hypo-mania or mixed symptoms within a one-year span. Someone who suffers from rapid cycling can swing from high to low and back in short intervals that can even occur within the same day.
Seasonal Mood Changes
Some people with bipolar disorder experience significant mood swings that literally change with the weather. This type of manic depressive illness has symptoms similar to seasonal affective disorder or SAD, according to MayoClinic.com. Some people become manic in the spring and fall into a depression as winter approaches. The opposite can also occur.
Psychosis
Severe episodes of either mania or depression may lead to a separation from reality known as psychosis, according to the NIMH. Delusions of imagined, but firmly held, beliefs and auditory or visual hallucinations are all possible during a psychotic episode.
